The State of Washington’s legislature has passed, and on May 18 its Governor signed, far-reaching legislation to reduce over-medication of foster children with psychotropic drugs.

House Bill 1879 mandates:

“. . . the [state health care]authority shall require a second opinion . . . for all prescriptions of one or more antipsychotic medications of all children under eighteen years of age in the foster care system. . . . The second opinion . . . must include discussion of the psychosocial interventions that have been or will be offered . . . .”

“The [state health care] authority shall track prescriptive practices with respect to psychotropic medications with the goal of reducing the use of medication.”

The [state health care] authority shall review the psychotropic medications of all children under five and establish one or more mechanisms to evaluate the appropriateness of the medication . . . including but not limited to obtaining second opinions . . . .”

“the [state health care] authority shall promote the appropriate use of cognitive behavioral therapies and other treatments which are empirically supported or evidence-based, in addition to or in the place of prescription medication where appropriate and such interventions are available.”

The psychotropic medication portion of the law is embedded in a legislative mandate for development of an “integrated” mental health system for foster children:

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Child PsychDrugs Action Campaign

The PsychDrugs Action Campaign works collaboratively with former foster youth, their advocates and state agencies to implement better regulation of psychotropic medication for foster children and to develop greater access to alternative supports for healing.